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THE: MUSIC TRADE:
U n d e r THE
The movement among piano manufacturers to
cut down the liberal credits so long in vogue is
being received by intelligent and progressive dealers
in the proper spirit. It is compelling them to look
closer after collections and is having a tendency to
place the retail piano business on a healthier and
safer basis. It goes without saying that if a dealer
can secure pianos on unlimited time from the manu-
facturer he is going to be just as liberal in his
terms with his customers. It is true there are
many dealers who do not view the projected move-
ment among piano manufacturers with favor, but
these are the dealers invariably who are not con-
ducting their business along business lines that
commend themselves to some. It is only necessary
to talk with the leading members of the trade to
realize that this movement of credit contraction is
being welcomed despite the fact that it will be the
means of inaugurating a complete new policy. This,
however, should be welcomed. For the larger the
amount of cash which the dealer can secure on
initial sales and the quicker he can get his collec-
tions in hand by the pursuit of an active cam-
paign in the credit department, the healthier will
his business be financially, and he will have no
trouble in meeting his obligations with the manu-
facturer. A. L. Jewett, first vice-president and
general manager of the National Piano Co., Boston,
Mass., in chatting on this topic recently, said:
"While there may be some sentiment on the part
of the dealers antagonistic to the manufacturers
taking action on terms at the coming Chicago con-
vention in February, I did not run across it. So
far as our own dealers are concerned they welcome
the probability of shortening of general credits,
knowing ultimately that it will be best for the
trade as a whole." This is the situation in a nut-
shell.
REIVIEIW
TALL TOWER
provements in manufacture.
Instead of a theless business is not what it should be. I am
monopoly-creating patent it is sometimes suggested therefore convinced that when the disquieting mat-
that every device should be open to any user who ters before referred to are cleared up, trade will
will pay the inventor a small royalty. Probably branch out again and go ahead steadily and progres-
no such change could prevent monopoly so long sively. Neither I nor anyone else can tell how
as the laws which forbid monopolistic combinations next year will turn out." This is about as Mr.
are negligently enforced.
McCrea, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Co., expressed himself when he said business
H *, X,
people
were now marking time.
1 he attitude of the musical critics of the daily
papers when discussing recitals given by eminent
pianists in this city—so many of which have oc-
In the matter of piano case designs there is
curred lately—is certainly a peculiar one. The
writer, like hundreds of readers interested in mat- little evidence of any new departure in the stand-
ters musical, has followed the critics in their re- ard styles of either grands or uprights. The
views of the recitals of such well-known pianists trend, if anything, is toward simp'icity, which,
as Hofmann, Mero, Borchard, Scharwenka, Hut- after all, results in the most convincing and satis-
cheson, Zeisler, and others, wherein justifiable en- factory of designs. The gingerbread effects of
thusiasm prevails in regard to the remarkable days agone which still appeal to some of the people
effects produced by some of these artists on the in the smaller towns and farming districts are en-
tirely out of fashion in the larger cities, and de-
pianos which they use. The varied qualities of
tone, covering every shade of musical expression, signers have come to rely more on creations built
have been discussed, but it has been impossible to on simple lines, harmonious in proportion arid con-
find one word regarding the medium whereby all sistent in architecture. It is more difficult to pro-
these wonderful effects were possible. If these duce really artistic effects in a simple design than
writers were discussing the works of celebrated in perhaps any other form. Take such piano de-
painters, they would give their names, and yet the signs as the Mission, the Empire, Colonial, and
maker of one of the great American art products each in itself, when true to its school, is a work
—the piano—is never mentioned when the critics of art, but where there is any "doctoring"—any
print their opinions of these recitals. Now, why irdication of excessive ornamentation or filigree
this narrow, illogical attitude? The instruments work not in keeping with the period—there is a
played by these artists should be of sufficient merit clash of ideas that offends the lover of the beau-
to share with the players in the artistic apprecia- tiful. The designing of pianos, just like fine furni-
tion bestowed. It is all very well to say that the ture, is an art that calls for the highest skill. And
business department of a newspaper objects to this this can be reflected in the simplest design much
because it would advertise the piano makers. But more effectively than in the most ornate creations
then, why not be consistent and adopt the same of the Louis period, with its magnificent reliefs and
rule when writing of the makers of automobiles paintings. Taken as a whole, however, the ma-
used
in reliability contests or owners of horses jority of designs put out by the leading piano
*
* *
displayed at the horse show or in other commercial manufacturers to-day show a tremendous improve-
In July the United States Patent Office will at
fields? As a matter of fact, the piano occupies a ment over the creations of some years ago. While
the present rate issue its one-millionth patent.
dignified position that deserves a more general ap- there is much more adaptation than origination in
July 31, 1790, the first patent was issued to Samuel
preciation on the part of the writers and business evidence, yet, taken as a whole, there exists a
Hopkins for a device for making pearl and pot
managers of the daily press. It is essentially an keener appreciation of the beautiful in architec-
ashes. Since then one patent has been issued for
art product—one that elevates and educates, and tural lines as applied to piano making than ever
about every 150 adult American men and women
before.
who have lived or are now living. Commenting an instrument that can win the approbation of real
artists
like
Hofmann,
Busoni
and
others
deserves
on this The World remarked editorially: The
mention in the daily papers, just as much as a
From time to time The Music Trade Re-
Patent Office is an inventional chamber of
horrors. It is a grave of dead hopes. It is trag- great painting. Both are contributing to the up- view has emphasized the value of the window
as a trade stimulator and business getter. Too
edy and comedy; it stores and guards the valuable lift of American art.
many dealers overlook this important factor. To
•6 * *
ideas of men whose brain children have been
appreciate its value you should do a little figuring.
stolen by ruthless capital, and the crazy concepts
As one of the Aeolian Co.'s brilliant staff of
of cranks. It is no place for an optimist. travelers in the wholesale department, W. V. How many people pass your store in a day? If
Patents are largely indicative of local tempera-
Swords figures prominently. Besides his equip- the average is 10 a minute, in the eight busiest
ment; the "inventive Yankee" is not himself an ment as a clever business man in connection with hours of the day, 4,800 people would pass your
invention. South Carolina in 1908 took out 65 this splendid organization, he is a keen observer, window. This number, 4,800, represents what in
patents; with a smaller population, Connecticut, and being a Harvard man his intellectual training newspaper parlance is called "daily circulation."
the home of the wooden nutmeg, called for 785. and practical experience eminently fit him to win- .Vow, your show window occupies say 100 square
Texas, with many more.people than Massachusetts, now the wheat from the chaff. At any rate Mr. feet surface space, and in it you can display at-
gives the Patent Office only a quarter as much
Swords' recently finished a Coast trip, and in chat- tractively quite a line of goods, changing the dis-
work. Kansas, teeming with ideas, gets less than ting of what he saw, heard and opined of the play as often as you wish. In a daily newspaper
one-tenth as many of them patented as New York. current situation, said: "I found conditions sound with an actual circulation of 4,800, 100 square
But Oklahoma nearly equals Virginia. Western
and the business men in every community I visited inches (not square feet) would cost approximately
and Southern inventors turn rather to social and
in an expectant state of mind. In my judgment $10 per day, and in this space you can put only
political than to mechanical invention.
they seemed prepared to go ahead, but there is a cuts of the articles themselves, and as a rule
feeling of hesitancy apparent which will probably the cuts but imperfectly represent those articles.
It is cheap and easy to get a patent but often not be overcome until the Supreme Court of the Now, your window space presents a surface 144
United States renders its decisions in the Standard times as great as your $10 newspaper space, has
difficult and expensive to fight infringement suits.
lepth in addition to surface, and in it can be dis-
That is one reason why inventors so often yield Oil Co. and the American Tobacco Co., on
played
the articles themselves, true to life as to
which
argument
is
yet
to
be
heard.
Also
the
atti-
valuable ideas to mere capitalists and, after bene-
tude of the Interstate Commerce Commission on color, size, shape and everything, and, further-
fiting the world, die miserably in garrets. It has
certain questions regarding freights, now before more, they are seen at the entrance to your store,
been claimed, that the ease of obtaining patents
has worked to the advantage of the United States them, is also a disturbing factor that is causing inside of which a salesman stands ready to give
as compared with Europe, where the process is considerable uneasiness. The land speculation in the additional information and exercise his ability in
much less easy, but the system is not ideal. Every West, South and Southwest has tied up about all making a sale. This window space is yours every
the available money in those sections, and this has day and all day; it presents wonderful possibilities
patent is Privilege. The more valuable the patent
the greater the .monopoly; nor does it die with had a tendency to curtail the buying of pianos. The as an advertising medium, and it's up to you to
the expiration of seventeen years.
All the banks, however, have the situation in hand and are get those possibilities out of it. If newspaper
arranging their loans and other accommodations in space properly used is worth its cost (and we are
basic patents of the telephone monopoly are now
free to any one, but the monopoly endures. The a very careful manner and along conservative lires. firmly convinced it is) how important it is that so
basic steel-making patents are common property, There is nothing whatever wrong with the country. valuable an advertising medium as the show win-
' but capital protects itself and absorbs new im- The crops of every kind are enormous, but never- dow should not be neglected.